Info/DoB of 29-2

[Karl Haemmerlein]

I purchased this 29-2 a couple of years ago for a friend who was short on cash at the time. I just repossesed it since he had not finished paying for it yet but somehow found the money to purchase a new rifle. To his credit, he did not argue the point or complain at all when I paid him back what he had paid to date. I'm actually glad he did not finish paying for it to tell the truth. I had shot it the day I picked it up, and for a 70's smith, it had a trigger almost as good as when they really knew how to make them and it was extremely accurate. I thought it was strange when I pulled it out of the case at one of my haunts a couple years ago in that it had what appeared to be laser engraving, and I did not think S&W did that in the time period of the 29-2, and also that it had diamond targets on it. The shop owner who I have known for 15 years said it was from one of his old friends and he had not done anything at all to it since he bought it new. Unfortunately, no box or anything else, just the revolver. I've had it back for 3 weeks now, and properly broke it in on a deer last Friday. Serial number is N3967XX 8 3/8 barrel. So when was it made, and did S&W actually do laser engraving at that time?

PS. This is not my first post here, but I have not been active here for a few years and found the forum had changed when earlier this year I was window shopping and re-registered. I kind of quit being on here after spending too much money in the sale section

 

[MP1983]

'75-'77...grips & etching cannot be original to the gun

does make a nice hunter!

 

[MP1983]

I'd bet there is a serial # inside the grips from the first gun they came on in the 50's or early 60's...

 

[MP1983]

maybe Doc44 or someone else may have further speculation to add about the etching...

 

[Karl Haemmerlein]

Thanks all, I'll pull the grips off later and see if there is a number. I only paid 450 for it a couple of years ago. I have a model 57 I purchased at the same shop that was in 99% condition easily, except for the grips which were cokes (about 90% on the grips) of all things on an 57 with a N starting the serial number. Picked that little gem up for 425. He had put those grips on the gun since the ones originally on it were cracked, thought they were just old grips he had in a drawer not worth anything I miss that shop a lot, probably bought 20 firearms there over the years and only got screwed on price once, and I knew it at the time but made the deal anyway. It was a pristine 24-3 4", apparently unfired but no box, and I so wanted a nice 44 special. Problem was he was selling for a friend and there were 2 revolvers, the other was a nib first year ruger 22 revolver and they had to be sold together. Got raped on that deal and knew it, but just had to have that 44 special. The owner's son, who was the gunsmith and a good friend, died 10 years ago asleep at the wheel late at night, the owners wife died in early 2009 of cancer, and the owner just passed recently of cancer. So the shop is no more. One of the last firearms I got from him was a gift, one of his sons projects he hadn't finished before he died. An old 1900 ish winchester gallery gun in 22 short he was restoring. The owner of the shop found it a year ago and thought his son would have liked me to have it. He had not gotten around to restoring the stock yet, but everything else looks and functions brand new.

 

[Doc44]

Target stocks on the 44 Magnum were not numbered, so the stocks on your 29-2 will not be numbered (at least, not by S&W). Laser engraving was not offered until long after your 29-2 was shipped in 76/77.

Looks like a nice revolver. The stocks date from around 1959 to 1968, so are a nice addition to your 44, but a little early for it.

Bill

 

[Karl Haemmerlein]

Thanks Doc, I did not think it was made anytime near when they did laser engraving. So the old man told a little fib to the gun shop when he sold it to them. I bet he had it sent back to S&W for a refinish and had the engraving done then. That does not bother me at all, for 450 dollars out the door, you cannot get a well made 44, much less one with a good trigger and accurate as heck.

 

[Doc44]

Karl H....Good price for a great gun!!

Bill